The 2024 winner of the prestigious Queen of the North TV Reality Show, Queen Namawu Bimuka, has formally launched a bold anti-drug abuse campaign in the Central Gonja municipality in the Savannah Regon. The event held last Friday (May 16, 2025) at the forecourt of the Paramount chief of the Buipe traditional area, Buipewura Jinapor II aims to tackle the alarming incidents of drug and substance abuse among the youth in the region and many other parts up north.
The colorful ceremony witnessed the participation of traditional leaders, government officials, educators, students and community members in a united call to action. Queen Namawu, who represented the Savannah Region in the TV Reality Show, used her platform to highlight the urgent need to protect young people from the dangers of drug addiction.
In an emotional speech, Queen Namawu shared the tragic reality many communities face due to drugs like tramadol, kush, and codeine. She referenced recent data from the Ghana Narcotics Control Commission, noting a rise in drug-related arrests and mental health cases, particularly in Buipe.
“Our youth are the roots of our future. If we lose them, we lose our tomorrow,” she said.
She called on all sectors, parents, teachers, religious leaders, and government officials to take a stand. “Drug abuse is not just an individual problem, it is a community crisis,” she stressed.
His Royal Majesty Buipewura Jinapor II, who hosted the event, expressed strong support for the campaign. He said the fight against drug abuse is one he is deeply passionate about and pledged to assist in ensuring the full implementation of the project.
“This campaign is in line with an issue close to my heart. I will give it my full support and ensure it achieves lasting results,” the Buipewura stated.
The launch follows a stakeholder meeting at the palace a month earlier, also focused on the drug menace. Queen Namawu said that meeting sparked hope, and her campaign is a continuation of that effort.
Mr. Abdul-Latif Alhassan, Executive Director of Celebrities Charity Development Foundation in a passionate plea called for a national movement to combat drug abuse among Ghana’s youth.
Expressing concern over the devastating impact of drug abuse, Mr. Alhassan urged the nation to go beyond awareness and turn the SAY NO TO DRUGS Campaign into a movement to reclaim the country’s sons and daughters.
He stressed that silence is complicity and failure to act is betrayal, highlighting the urgent need for collective action to address this issue.
The District Chief Executive for Central Gonja District on his part lamented in the growing drug addiction among the youth in the area and pledged to collaborate with all stakeholders to arrest drug peddlers and identify addicts for rehabilitation.
The event ended with a collective pledge to confront the drug crisis and build a safer, healthier future for the youth of the Savannah Region.
